TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 A LAND OF LEGENDs 4 CHAPTER 2 AMAZING MYTHS 10 CHAPTER 3 LASTING LEGACIES 16 CHAPTER 4 ART AND LITERATURE 22 CHAPTER 5 MYTHOLOGY AND ENTERTAINMENT 26 THINK ABOUT IT 30 LEARN MORE 31 GLOSSARY 32 INDEX 32
CHAPTER 1 A LALD OF LEGENDs oday the People s Republic of China is known for its vast and diverse population It is home to almost 14 billion citizens They belong to more than 50 ethnic groups They speak many languages though the nation's official language is Mandarin China is filled with towering mountains and fertile farmland It also has a long fascinating history From about 2100 BCE to 1912 CE the nation was ruled by dynasties A dynasty is made up of a series of rulers from the same family 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
As with other cultures dating back to ancient times the facts of China s history often blur with the region's complex colorful mythology Chinese myths often depict real life emperors as gods The emperors appear in legends alongside other gods and mythical creatures Some ancient Chinese storytellers used their tales to explain natural mysteries such as how the world was China's dramatic landscapes have inspired myths for thousands of years MYTH OLOGY AND
